Summary of Elections

The City of Poway was incorporated on December 1, 1980. Any election materials prior to that date are on file at the County Registrar of Voters. Bob Emery, Linda Oravec, Clyde Rexrode, Mary Shepardson and Bruce Tarzy were elected as the first City Council with Bob Emery and Bruce Tarzy receiving the most votes. The City Council held the first election to fill 3 Council seats on April 13, 1982.

On February 8, 1983, an Ordinance was adopted which consolidated future General Municipal Elections with the November Statewide General Elections to reduce cost and increase voter turnout. This extended those officeholders' term 7 months.

April 13, 1982 - 3 City Council Seats

Frank Palfy

715

Ellen Hamberg

1,470

David Daniels

934

Linda Oravec *

3,407

Mark Tutt

588

W. A. "Bill" Cole

2,048

Clyde Rexrode **

2,235

Norman Rauch

584

L.A. "Bud" Weiderrich

1,388

Robert Willcox

231

Mary Shepardson*

3,305

Registered Voters

15,755

Total Ballots Cast

5,806

Cost

$13,441.91

Voter Turnout

37%

*Re-elected
**Died April 12, 1982, but was re-elected. Carl Kruse appointed May 4, 1982 to fill vacancy. Took out papers but did not file: Fred Johnson, Forrest Paulson
Disqualified for insufficient signatures on nomination form: Bruce Hamilton

November 6, 1984 - 2 City Council Seats

Roger Willoughby

5,165

Mark O'Dell

3,721

Bruce Tarzy *

7,609

Bob Emery *

8,574

Registered Voters

19,419

Total Ballots Cast

14,607

Cost

$1,848

Voter Turnout

75%

*Re-elected
Took out papers but did not file: Fred Johnson, Forrest Paulson
Disqualified for insufficient signatures on nomination form: Bruce Hamilton

November 4, 1986 - 3 City Council Seats

Brian Quinn

1,581

Don Higginson *

4,801

Bruce Hamilton

1,131

Linda Brannon

6,231

Roger Willoughby

1,693

Walter Champagne

788

Joan Calton

748

Allen Kozakiewicz

1,008

Carl Kruse *

4,287

Linda Oravec

3,791

Frank Zemke

824

Mary Shepardson

3,452

Barry Stratton

1,153

Registered Voters

20,030

Total Ballots Cast

11,588

Cost

$3,269

Voter Turnout

58%

*Re-elected
Took out papers but did not file: Mary Jude Hagan, Roberto Juarez
File papers, withdrew before the deadline: William Jensen

November 8, 1988 - 2 City Council Seats

Gordon Meyer

4,968

Larry Valente

6,687

Jan Goldsmith *

8,709

Bob Emery **

7,984

Proposition FF Yes

10,960

Proposition FF No

5,969

Proposition GG Yes

4,334

Proposition GG No

12,159

Registered Voters

23,719

Total Ballots Cast

18,291

Cost

$7,946

Voter Turnout

77%

*Elected
**Re-elected
Proposition FF - Requiring Voter Approval of Land Use Changes to Certain Property if such changes would increase the density or intensify the use permitted by the law in effect on the date of adoption of this Ordinance.
Proposition GG - Requiring preparation of a Quality of Life Plan

June 5, 1990 - 2 Measures

Proposition J Yes

3,555

Proposition J No

5,188

Proposition K Yes

6,056

Proposition K No

2,700

Registered Voters

22,611

Total Ballots Cast

9,363

Cost

$4,777

Voter Turnout

41%

Proposition J - Shall the General Plan be amended to permit churches and other religious institutional uses to be constructed on natural slopes of greater than 10 percent in rural residential areas?
Proposition K - Shall the electors elect 4 City Councilmembers and a Mayor who shall have a term of office for 4 years?

November 6, 1990 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Bob Emery

5,519

Jan Goldsmith ***

8,854

Council

Vicki Lazowski

4,715

Don Higginson **

6,713

Tony Snesko *

7,515

Barry Stratton

2,058

Alan Sugarman

5,802

Registered Voters

23,386

Total Ballots Cast

15,233

Cost

$4,002

Voter Turnout

65%

*Elected
**Re-elected

***Elected Mayor; created vacancy on Council. Resigned as Mayor August 4, 1992 to enter State Assembly election. Don Higginson appointed to fill the vacancy until the November 3, 1992 Special Election. Kathy McIntyre appointed to fill Council vacancy.

November 3, 1992 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Don Higginson ****

13,619

William Hickey

5,306

Council

Bob Emery **

11,665

Vicki Lazowski

5,304

Judy Mantle

5,332

Susan Callery *

8,745

Howard Collins

2,021

Proposition S Yes

14,174

Proposition S No

5,270

Registered Voters

26,775

Total Ballots Cast

21,162

Cost

$9,367

Voter Turnout

72%

*Elected
**Re-elected
***A Special Election to fill last 2 years of Councilmember Goldsmith's term.
****Elected Mayor; created vacancy on the City Council. Michael "Mickey" Cafagna appointed to fill the vacancy.
Proposition S - Shall an ordinance by adopted which would require voter approval of land use changes which would permit an asphalt plant in the South Poway Planned Community?
Took out papers but did not file: Jim Cunningham (taken out by Connie Youngkin for him for City Council), Charles MacLauclan (Mayor)
Withdrew after the filing deadline: Vicki Lazowski

November 8, 1994 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Don Higginson **

11,110

Tony Snesko

5,528

Council

Kyle Everson

6,301

Juil White

1,880

Mickey Cafagna *

8,017

Jim Crosby

4,431

Betty Rexford *

6,678

Registered Voters

26,522

Total Ballots Cast

17,594

Cost

$6,393

Voter Turnout

66.3%

*Elected
**Re-elected
Took out papers but did not file: Richard Freund, Valerie Trout, and Roger Willoughby

November 5, 1996 - 2 City Council Seats

Council

Merrilee Boyack

5,899

Peggy Collette

2,920

Bob Emery **

10,557

Jay Goldby *

8,233

John Gonnerman

464

Ed Malone

1,899

Katrina Pavin

1,994

Gary Vineyard

1,015

Proposition S Yes

3,495

Proposition S No

15,214

Registered Voters

27,160

Total Ballots Cast

19,860

Cost

$7,497

Voter Turnout

73%

*Elected
**Re-elected
Took out papers but did not file: Roger Willoughby
Filed papers but did not have 20 qualified signatures: Roger Mannex
Proposition S - would impose stricter regulations on the keeping of horses and other large animals within the City boundaries. Proposition Failed.

June 3, 1997 - 1 Measure

Proposition A Yes

4,010

Proposition A No

752

Registered Voters

26,449

Total Ballots Cast

4,853

Cost

$40,486

Voter Turnout

18%

*Proposition A - Shall an Ordinance replacing the fire protection fee in effect in Poway since 1982 with a fire protection special tax by adopted which will not increase the amount of the assessment and will be used only for fire protection purposes?

Proposition A was adopted by the required 2/3 voter approval.

June 2, 1998 - 1 Measure

Proposition J Yes

6,794

Proposition J No

3,188

Registered Voters

25,166

Total Ballots Cast

11,089

Cost

4,708

Voter Turnout

44%

Proposition J - Shall an ordinance for funding police, fire, medical and other emergency services be approved which establishes as a special tax the previously authorized charge to continue paying Poway's costs of participating in the Regional Communications System?
Proposition J was adopted by the required 2/3 voter approval.

November 3, 1998 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Joe Diaz, Jr.

5,386

Mickey Cafagna *

9,452

Council

Gary R. Vineyard, Sr.

3,372

Louis J. Tooch

1,353

Don Higginson *

10,260

Willie Holland

1,235

Betty Rexford **

9,968

Registered Voters

25,748

Total Ballots Cast

16,345

Cost

$4,559

Voter Turnout

64%

*Elected
**Re-elected
Took out papers but did not file: Ed Malone, Eric Wiseman

November 7, 2000 - 2 City Council Seats

Council

Jay Goldby **

11,771

Bob Emery **

11,467

Roger Willoughby

6,778

Registered Voters

27,234

Total Ballots Cast

17,698

Cost

$5,801

Voter Turnout

79%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 5, 2002 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Mickey Cafagna **

10,035

Louis Tooch

4,462

Council

Don Higginson **

8,791

Betty Rexford **

8,975

R.W. "Nick" Stavros

6,071

Proposition N Yes

7,881

Proposition N No

6,614

Registered Voters

27,244

Total Ballots Cast

15,808

Cost

$12,737

Voter Turnout

58%

*Elected
**Re-elected
Proposition N - Shall an ordinance of the City of Poway be adopted which would increase the Transient Occupancy Tax from the current 6 percent to 10 percent of a hotel or motel guest's room rate?

March 2, 2004 - 1 Measure

Proposition E Yes

2,601

Proposition E No

12,211

Registered Voters

26,637

Total Ballots Cast

14,812

Cost

$17,209

Voter Turnout

50.26%

Proposition E - Shall an ordinance be adopted which would change the General Plan and Zoning Designation of Approximately Twenty Acres at the Northwest Corner of Highway 67 and Poway Road from Rural Residential to Automotive/General Commercial?
Proposition E failed.

November 2, 2004 - 2 City Council Seats

Council

Bob Emery **

7,798

Merrilee Boyack *

7,788

Jeff Lake

6,382

R.W. "Nick" Stavros

5,351

Scott Harman

4,138

Connie Messina

3,037

David C. Harrison

1,629

Michael J. Doleshal

851

Registered Voters

29,050

Total Ballots Cast

24,057

Total Votes Cast

36,998

Cost

$10,237

Voter Turnout

82.81%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 7, 2006 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Mickey Cafagna *

12,994

Ed Carboneau

2,893

Council

Don Higginson **

10,030

Betty Rexford **

9,426

Connie Messina

3,751

Joe St. Lucas

2,717

David Knopp

2,281

Registered Voters

27,532

Total Ballots Cast

17,432

Total Votes Cast

15,995

Cost

$18,458

Voter Turnout

63.32%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 4, 2008 - 2 City Council Seats

Council

Merrilee Boyack **

11,967

Jim Cunningham **

11,161

Chuck Cross

6,370

Howard Collins

4,583

Registered Voters

28,551

Total Ballots Cast

13,077

Total Votes Cast

24,956

Cost

$15,284

Voter Turnout

87.41%

*Elected
**Re-elected

June 8, 2010 - Special Municipal Recall Election

Shall Betty Rexford be removed from the City Council?

Yes

9,408

No

2,656

For member of the City Council to succeed Councilmember Betty Rexford if she is removed? (Term ending November 2010)

John Mullin *

3,152

Steve Vaus

3,049

Pete Babich

2,026

Dave Grosch

1,214

Chuck Cross

709

David Radcliff

618

Roger Willoughby

377

Howard Collins

238

Registered Voters

27,421

Total Ballots Cast - Recall Yes or No

12,064

Total Ballots Cast - Replacement

11,423

Cost

$21,026

Voter Turnout

29%

*Elected

November 2, 2010 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Don Higginson **

9,657

R.W. "Nick" Stavros

8,138

Council

John Mullin *

9,440

Dave Grosch *

7,313

Pete Babich

6,981

Carl Kruse

5,929

Registered Voters

27,875

Total Ballots Cast

19,937

Total Votes Cast

17,833

Cost

$17,219

Voter Turnout

71.52%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 6, 2012 - 2 City Council Seats

Council

Steve Vaus *

11,707

Jim Cunningham **

11,571

Jeff Mangum

7,705

Gary Vineyard

4,188

Registered Voters

29,243

Total Ballots Cast

24,144

Total Votes Cast

35,204

Cost

16,493.00

Voter Turnout

82.56%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 4, 2014 - Mayor & 2 City Council Seats

Mayor

Don Higginson

6,855

Steve Vaus *

8,481

Council

Dave Grosch **

10,657

John Mullin **

8,979

Christopher Olps

3,883

Registered Voters

28,759

Total Ballots Cast

16,191

Total Votes Cast

47,399

Cost

not available at this time

Voter Turnout

56%

*Elected
**Re-elected

November 8, 2016 - 2 City Council Seats

Christopher Olps

2,337

Amy Romaker

2,905

Jonathan "Jon" Ryan

2,680

Torrey Powers

1,696

Jim Cunningham**

9,542

Joe Calabrese

3,133

Barry Leonard*

6,291

Sean Finley

2,603

John McConnin

1,397

Julie Bendinelli

3,820

Measure W Yes

11,319

Measure W No

11,999

Registered Voters

29,173

Total Votes Cast

25,180

Voter Turnout

86.3%

*Elected
**Re-Elected

Measure W – “Do you approve Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 as adopted by the Poway City Council to amend the Old Coach Golf Estates Specific Plan, to allow development of a hotel with up to 240 rooms on the existing Maderas Golf Course site located at 17750 Old Coach Road?”

November 7, 2017 - 1 Measure

Measure A Yes

7,603

Measure A No

4,486

Registered Voters

29,318

Total Ballots Cast

12,104

Cost

$414,746

Voter Turnout

41.29%

Measure A – Shall the ordinance changing the General Plan and Zoning Land Use Map to redesignate a portion of the Stoneridge Country Club from Open Space-Recreation to Residential Condominium with the Stoneridge Overlay Zone to allow for the development of not more than 180 residential condominium units for residents over the age of 55 be adopted?

November 6, 2018 - Mayor, Districts 1 and 3 City Council Seats (4 years), and
City Council Short Term Seat (2 years)